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At least 757 records · Page 42

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NASA NTRS1972

Accelerated life testing of spacecraft subsystems

The rationale and requirements for conducting accelerated life tests on electronic subsystems of spacecraft are presented. A method for applying data on the reliability and temperature sensitivity of the parts contained in a sybsystem to the selection of accelerated life test parameters is described. Additional considerations affecting the formulation of test requirements are identified, and practical limitations of accelerated aging are described.

Wiksten, D.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Sustained linear acceleration

The subjective effects of sustained acceleration are discussed, including positive, negative, forward, backward, and lateral acceleration effects. Physiological effects, such as retinal and visual response, unconsciousness and cerebral function, pulmonary response, and renal output, are studied. Human tolerance and performance under sustained acceleration are ascertained.

Fraser, T. M.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Human eye movements during various forms of linear acceleration and weightlessness

Eye movements of human subjects were recorded electronystagmographically in complete darkness during rectilinear horizontal accelerations as achieved in cars on the ground and also during aircraft parabolic flight. The results were compared to the movements of blinded goldfish subjected to similar changes of gravitoinertial forces. The results indicate that there is a human correlation with the gravity reference response of fish. During horizontal forward accelerations on the ground the human eyes turn downward and during horizontal backward acceleration the eyes turn upward. The human eye response to g-loads below 1 g and to weightlessness is the reverse of the tilt of the fish. While fish dive down during low g, or loop forward during weightlessness, the eyes of subjects sitting upright in an aircraft which flies at 0 g move upward.

Vonbaumgarten, R. J.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Effects of prolonged acceleration with or without clinostat rotation on seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh

Three 21-day tests of the effects of chronic centrifugation were carried out on populations of Arabidopsis thaliana. In addition to 1 g the resultant g-forces tested were: 2,4,6,8,16, and 20 g. Observed end points included gross morphological characters such as size of plant organs and, at the other extreme, features of sub-cellular structure and ultrastructure. Plants were grown on banks of clinostats. The acceleration vector was directed either parallel with the plants' axes or transverse to the axes. Plant responses to chronic axial acceleration and to transverse acceleration with clinostated plants were determined. From the data obtained it was possible in some cases: (1) to determine the g-functions of specific plant developmental characters; (2) to extrapolate those functions to the hypothetical value at zero g in order to predict (tentatively) the morphology of a plant grown in space, (3) to describe morphological effects of clinostat rotation, (4) to determine which of those effects was influenced by the prevailing g-force, and (5) to put to direct test the assumption that clinostat rotation nullifies or compensates for the influence of gravity.

Brown, A. H.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Advance techniques for monitoring human tolerance to positive Gz accelerations

Tolerance to positive g accelerations was measured in ten normal male subjects using both standard and advanced techniques. In addition to routine electrocardiogram, heart rate, respiratory rate, and infrared television, monitoring techniques during acceleration exposure included measurement of peripheral vision loss, noninvasive temporal, brachial, and/or radial arterial blood flow, and automatic measurement of indirect systolic and diastolic blood pressure at 60-sec intervals. Although brachial and radial arterial flow measurements reflected significant cardiovascular changes during and after acceleration, they were inconsistent indices of the onset of grayout or blackout. Temporal arterial blood flow, however, showed a high correlation with subjective peripheral light loss.

Pelligra, R.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Relaxation of the accelerating-gas boundary layer to the test-gas boundary layer on a flat plate in an expansion tube

An analytic investigation of the relaxation of the accelerating-gas boundary layer to the test-gas boundary layer over a flat plate mounted in an expansion tube has been conducted. In this treatment, nitrogen has been considered as the test gas and helium as the accelerating gas. The problem is analyzed in two conically similar limits: (1) when the time lag between the arrival of the shock and the interface at the leading edge of the plate is very large, and (2) when this time lag is negligible. The transient laminar boundary-layer equations of a perfect binary-gas mixture are taken as the flow governing equations. These coupled equations have been solved numerically by Gauss-Seidel line-relaxation method. The results predict the transient behavior as well as the time required for an all-helium accelerating-gas boundary layer to relax to an all-nitrogen boundary layer.

Gupta, R. N.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Changes in mesenteric, renal, and aortic flows with +Gx acceleration

Previous studies in man and dogs have indicated that the splanchnic bed might contribute to the maintenance of arterial pressure during +Gx acceleration. Eight mongrel dogs were chronically instrumented with Doppler flow probes around the superior mesenteric (SMA) and renal arteries (RA) as well as the terminal aorta (TA). A solid-state pressure transducer was placed in the aorta distal to the flow probe. Using alpha-chloralose anesthesia following a 2-4 week recovery period, the animals were subjected to 120 sec at levels of 5, 10 and 15 +Gx acceleration on a 7.6-m radius centrifuge. The results indicate that both an active component and a mechanical component contribute to the maintenance of arterial pressure during +Gx acceleration.

Stone, H. L.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Acceleration of electrons in solar flares

Observations pertaining to the acceleration and emission of 10 to 100 keV electrons in small solar flares are reviewed. The energy spectrum of the accelerated electrons is obtained from observations of X-rays and escaping electrons. The loss of the electrons through various processes, such as collisions with the ambient medium, escape to the interplanetary medium, and emission of X-rays and radio waves, is considered, and quantitative energy loss estimates obtained for each process. The role of the accelerated electrons in the overall flare mechanism is examined and an attempt is made to develop a consistent picture of a small electron flare.

Lin, R. P.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Solar particles /observations, relationship to the sun acceleration, interplanetary medium/

The major features of the propagation of flare particles in the interplanetary medium are discussed in terms of the classic well-behaved flare having unique impulsive injection and a smooth time profile. Topics include flare events, their frequency of occurrence, development of a typical event, energy spectra, proton and electron types, charge and isotopic composition, solar flares and particle accelerations, radio and X-ray observations, the Fermi mechanism, the betatron mechanism, acceleration models, plasma instabilities, two-stage acceleration, propagation mechanisms, the anisotropic stage, the diffusive stage, and the convection and energy loss stage.

Mcdonald, F. B.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Acceleration processes in the quasi-steady magnetoplasmadynamic discharge

The flow field characteristics within the discharge chamber and exhaust of a quasi-steady magnetoplasmadynamic (MPD) arcjet were examined to clarify the nature of the plasma acceleration process. The observation of discharge characteristics unperturbed by insulator ablation and terminal voltage fluctuations, first requires the satisfaction of three criteria: the use of refractory insulator materials; a mass injection geometry tailored to provide propellant to both electrode regions of the discharge; and a cathode of sufficient surface area to permit nominal MPD arcjet operation for given combinations of arc current and total mass flow. The axial velocity profile and electromagnetic discharge structure were measured for an arcjet configuration which functions nominally at 15.3 kA and 6 g/sec argon mass flow. An empirical two-flow plasma acceleration model is advanced which delineates inner and outer flow regions and accounts for the observed velocity profile and calculated thrust of the accelerator.

Boyle, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1975

High altitude gust acceleration environment as experienced by a supersonic airplane

High altitude turbulence experienced at supersonic speeds is described in terms of gust accelerations measured on the YF-12A airplane. The data were obtained during 90 flights at altitudes above 12.2 kilometers (40,000 feet). Subjective turbulence intensity ratings were obtained from air crew members. The air crew often rated given gust accelerations as being more intense during high altitude supersonic flight than during low altitude subsonic flight. The portion of flight distance in turbulence ranged from 6 percent to 8 percent at altitudes between 12.2 kilometers and 16.8 kilometers (40,000 feet and 55,000 feet) to less than 1 percent at altitudes above 18.3 kilometers (60,000 feet). The amount of turbulence varied with season, increasing by a factor of 3 or more from summer to winter. Given values of gust acceleration were less frequent, on the basis of distance traveled, for supersonic flight of the YF-12A airplane at altitudes above 12.2 kilometers (40,000 feet) than for subsonic flight of a jet passenger airplane at altitudes below 12.2 kilometers (40,000 feet). The median thickness of high altitude turbulence patches was less than 400 meters (1300 feet); the median length was less than 16 kilometers (10 miles). The distribution of the patch dimensions tended to be log normal.

Ehernberger, L. J.↗

NASA NTRS1974

The influence of acceleration forces on nucleation, solidification, and deformation processes in tin single crystals

An apparatus was designed and assembled to directionally solidify single crystals under the influence of acceleration forces of various magnitudes. The investigation conducted showed that acceleration gradients produce a preferred growth orientation effect not previously observed for tin. Convection currents at approximately 5-g encourage multiple nucleation and subsequent random orientation of growth direction. Deformation effects such as recrystallization and twinning are observed at acceleration levels greater than 2-g.

Johnston, M. H.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Particle acceleration in solar flares

A review of observational data supports the proposal that there are two distinct phases of particle acceleration in solar flares. 'Phase 1' is associated with the flash phase and is here interpreted as acceleration during field-line reconnection. 'Phase 2' is associated with type II and type IV radio bursts, and is ascribed to stochastic acceleration in the turbulent plasma behind a magnetohydrodynamic shock formed ahead of an ejected plasmoid.

Sturrock, P. A.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Plasma flow and fast particles in a hypervelocity accelerator - A color presentation

A new concept for particle acceleration for micrometeoroid simulation was developed at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, using a high-density self-luminescent fast plasma flow to accelerate glass beads (with a diameter up to 1.0 mm) to velocities between 15-20 km/sec. After a short introduction to the operation of the hypervelocity range, the eight-converter-camera unit used for the photographs of the plasma flow and the accelerated particles is described. These photographs are obtained with an eight-segment reflecting pyramidal beam splitter. Wratten filters were mounted between the beam splitter and the converter tubes of the cameras. The photographs, which were recorded on black and white film, were used to make the matrices for the dye-color process, which produced the prints shown.

Igenbergs, E. B.↗

NASA NTRS1975

Computed lateral rate and acceleration power spectral response of conventional and STOL airplanes to atmospheric turbulence

Power-spectral-density calculations were made of the lateral responses to atmospheric turbulence for several conventional and short take-off and landing (STOL) airplanes. The turbulence was modeled as three orthogonal velocity components, which were uncorrelated, and each was represented with a one-dimensional power spectrum. Power spectral densities were computed for displacements, rates, and accelerations in roll, yaw, and sideslip. In addition, the power spectral density of the transverse acceleration was computed. Evaluation of ride quality based on a specific ride quality criterion was also made. The results show that the STOL airplanes generally had larger values for the rate and acceleration power spectra (and, consequently, larger corresponding root-mean-square values) than the conventional airplanes. The ride quality criterion gave poorer ratings to the STOL airplanes than to the conventional airplanes.

Lichtenstein, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1976

Analysis of accelerated motion in the theory of relativity

Conventional treatments of accelerated motion in the theory of relativity have led to certain difficulties of interpretation. Certain reversals in the apparent gravitational field of an accelerated body may be avoided by simpler analysis based on the use of restricted conformal transformations. In the conformal theory the velocity of light remains constant even for experimenters in accelerated motion. The problem considered is that of rectilinear motion with a variable velocity. The motion takes place along the x or x' axis of two coordinate systems.

Jones, R. T.↗

NASA NTRS1976

The acceleration of energetic particles in the interplanetary medium by transit-time damping

Transit time damping is examined as a possible means for accelerating low energy particles in co-rotating streams and interstellar ions. Data show that: the protons in co-rotating streams may be accelerated by transient-time damping the small-scale variations in the field magnitude that are observed at a low level in the inner solar system. The interstellar ions may be accelerated by transit time damping large-scale field variations in the outer solar system.

Fisk, L. A.↗

NASA NTRS1976

On the acceleration of energetic particles in the interplanetary medium

Fermi scattering and transit time damping are two possible mechanisms for accelerating low energy protons (approximately 1 Mev) in co-rotating particle streams. Solutions to the equations which govern particle behavior in such streams are presented. It was found that acceleration by Fermi scattering requires a scattering mean-free path more than an order of magnitude smaller than the nominal value for low energy particles of 0.1 AU. Transit time damping of only the observed low level of magnitude fluctuations in the interplanetary magnetic field appears to yield the required acceleration rate. Measurements of the direction of the anisotropy in the particle streams could help in deciding which mechanism is operative. In the case of Fermi scattering the anisotropy must be in the heliocentric radial direction, whereas for transit time damping a significant azimuthal anisotropy could be present.

Fisk, L. A.↗